OT - Book (Non Fiction) Review/Recommendations Thread

[Rainbow Six]

Just finished Dead Men Risen by Toby Harnden (ISBN 9781849164214),

There are a number of books now available about the British Army in Afghanistan and this one is, in my opinion, one of the best I've read. It covers the Welsh Guards 2009 tour, during which they lost their Commanding Officer and a Company Commander to IED's.

Highly, highly recommended.

[Adm.Lee]

The wrong war: grit, strategy and the way out of Afghanistan by "Bing" West.

West is also the author of the classic The Village, about a Combined Action Platoon in Vietnam. This is his book about hanging around Marines and soldiers in 2009 and 2010, and his recommendations as well. I thought the patrol reporting was well done, and the suggestions clear.

He does not over-hype the "Well, when I was in Vietnam, we did this..." angle, but he does draw parallels when they can be seen. In fact, he spends a fair amount of time on the places where classic Counterinsurgency prescriptions won't work, such as where the locals are deeply hostile, and the local government is too corrupt or incompetent to deliver meaningful services.

[Raellus]

Originally Posted by Adm.Lee

The wrong war: grit, strategy and the way out of Afghanistan by "Bing" West.

West is also the author of the classic The Village, about a Combined Action Platoon in Vietnam. This is his book about hanging around Marines and soldiers in 2009 and 2010, and his recommendations as well. I thought the patrol reporting was well done, and the suggestions clear.

He does not over-hype the "Well, when I was in Vietnam, we did this..." angle, but he does draw parallels when they can be seen. In fact, he spends a fair amount of time on the places where classic Counterinsurgency prescriptions won't work, such as where the locals are deeply hostile, and the local government is too corrupt or incompetent to deliver meaningful services.

I've read The Village, which I found a bit disappointing (probably since it's been widely touted as a classic) and also West's account of the battle of Fallujah, No True Glory, which I enjoyed quite a bit.

[Raellus]

These Osprey titles haven't been released yet, at least in the U.S., but they promise to have quite a bit of potential for the classic T2K'er:

1. Vietnam Gun-Trucks 2. Special Operations Patrol Vehicles (Afghanistan & Iraq) 3. LAV-25

http://www.amazon.com/Vietnam-Gun-Tr...1302416&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Special-Operat...ref=pd_sim_b_7

http://www.amazon.com/LAV-25-New-Van...ref=pd_sim_b_1

[kcdusk]

I just bought "Licensed to kill" by Robert Young Pelton. More Merc than T2K. I've only read the first 3 or 4 chapters, it has been a great read so far with subject material to come later in the book which i am more interested in.

http://www.amazon.com/Licensed-Kill-.../dp/1400097819

[Graebarde]

One Second Later William R Forstchen. EMP attack on the US, and survival in a rather populated area of western North Carolina. Very interesting perspectives. The book, written a few years ago, was actually submitted to congress, or at least one of the committees.

Sorry if it was already mentioned.

[Sanjuro]

Sniping in France, by Herbert Hesketh-Prichard. The author was a big game hunter, who became involved in the training of snipers and scouts in WW1. It has a lot of interesting material about camouflage, and the use of hides for snipers. The fictional sniper in Gerald Seymour's Holding the Zero had a copy in his rucksack!

[Raellus]

Originally Posted by Graebarde

One Second Later William R Forstchen. EMP attack on the US, and survival in a rather populated area of western North Carolina. Very interesting perspectives. The book, written a few years ago, was actually submitted to congress, or at least one of the committees.

Sorry if it was already mentioned.

I hope that's fiction!